I can think of worse things than to be sought after by dragons incarnated as hot, hung guys with insatiable sex drives. Being sought after by the IRS? Worse. Dateless on New Years Eve (again)? Much worse. Paris Hilton moving to my town? Much MUCH worse. Being drawn into a web of sexual and mystical intrigue with the aforementioned hot dragons watching my back? Oh, yeah. Bring. It. On.

Such is the love I feel for François Peneaud’s release from Class Comics: Brother to Dragons.

Peneaud, famous of The Gay Comics List, steps fearlessly into an underdeveloped genre of comic books – the erotic fantasy. Off-hand, the only other example I can think of (besides Xena, Warrior Princess, but we’re not talking subtext here) would be Bill Willingham’s Ironwood, hopelessly heterosexual but an outstanding example of monster-on-elven-ranger action. Of course, Brother to Dragons comes with a gay twist but it’s François' understanding of the elements of fantasy that make the story a winner.

Ever since Dungeons and Dragons hit the game shelves back in the 1980’s and revived interest in the fantasy novel (especially Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Moorcock’s Elric Saga), there has been a never-ending stream of derivative stories that do very little in terms of using the fantastic as a springboard to tell outlandish and, ultimately, exciting adventure stories. How ironic is that? That fantasy can be unoriginal and uninspired. Trite even. And I will be the first to admit that, even being a D&D nerd, I am jaded about the modern fantasy story. Therefore, I find it a tribute to Peneaud’s writing skill that I did not dismiss Brother to Dragons out-of-hand as “another D&D rip-off", and indeed found it to be an engaging story set in a well-developed world populated by believable characters who don’t make melodramatic statements (i.e., “I. Am. EVIL!!!!! ROOOOOOARRRR!!!!!!”) nor waste my time with needless exposition. For instance, the title: Brother to Dragons. How many novels have the word “dragon” in the title? How many movies? OK, how many of them are good? In a way, “dragon” has become a red flag, a warning that contents may dissolve under scrutiny. It becomes the burden of the writer then to lower that red flag and replace it with a resplendent banner. This is not an easy task, but Peneaud has accomplished it admirably.

As far as the characters go, Peneaud and artist Carlos Garcia use many shortcuts to let us know who is who and what they stand for, but without stereotyping. Characters may be of an easily identifiable fantasy-type, but Peneaud doesn’t keep them as types – by end of issue one, distinct and engaging personalities emerge. This is not to say that Alaï, the main character, isn’t a pretty, young naïf on the road to adventure; he is, but he is not a carbon copy of Luke Skywalker forced into a para-medieval world. While we recognize and can quickly identify who Alaï is and probably what he’s about, I can bet we’re going to be wrong in the long run. Menacing evil guy in a dark hooded cloak? Got one! I know what side he’s on, but I expect to be surprised by him as the story goes on exactly because everything else in Peneaud’s world is not hackneyed, so why should this guy be? Say it with me, “Shortcutting is not stereotyping." Garcia gives the characters life with ranging emotions and expressive faces and bodies (Lord! Those bodies!!), as he does for the settings. Woods and villages and churches are all fantastically primitive and boldly energetic.

That being said, let’s talk about the sex. It’s hot. This is Class Comics, so it’s got to be hot. But the B2D cast doesn’t wield the dear-god-it’s-coming-right-at-me penes that Class Comics is so well-known for. The proportions are more easily (dare I say it?) swallowed. Garcia's renderings of the male form in action is (of course) what makes the sex hot. Anyone can draw a penis, but to get it to move in space while attached to a body, that take talent. What I like in B2D is that gay sex is a central tenet to the religion of the land. It is used not only to bind men in brotherhood, but also to connect men to the divine. This is a kingdom I would definitely buy a condo in. Then get track lighting for it.

Ultimately, François and Carlos have done what every fanboi/grrl aspires to do: create a good comic book with a story readers will enjoy and look like seasoned pros doing it. The fact that their work was picked up by a major publisher is gravy. Good for them, I say!

Editor's note: Buy this comic here or ask for it at your local comics shop.

Sean McGrath is a resident of Austin, Texas and an associate professor of English as a Second Language for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students at Austin Community College. He writes the comic book Frater Mine on the side in addition to cooking, reading, customizing Mego action figures and swilling apple sour martinis at local gay watering holes. Sean can be reached at stseanoftheknife@austin.rr.com should one have any etymological questions or job offers in Columbus, OH for him.

Brother to Dragons © 2007 Class Comics. Review © 2007 Sean McGrath

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